Island



(No Model.)

A, WRIGHT. ELBGTRIO SWITCH.

No. 468,125. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS \VRIGHT, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITC H.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,125, dated February 2, 1892.

Application filed July 31,1891- Serial No. 401.264. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS WRIGHT, of the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference more especiallyto improvements in that class of switches known as cut-outs.

The object of this invention is to produce an electric switch in which the movement of the lever in one direction slightly past the center will call into action a spring or springs to carry the arm to its farthest point of movement in that direction and positively switch the current from one circuit to another.

The invention consists in the combination of a suitable extension of the lever and a pivoted link secured to this extension, the upper end of this link being depressed by a suitable spring or springs to force the lever positively to the side toward which movement has commenced, as will be more fully describedhereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

Similar numbers of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

The drawing is a plan view of an ordinary cut-out switch, showing the improvements in combination therewith.

In the drawing, 5 indicates a base formed of non-conductive material, having the connecting-posts 6 and 6' secured to the upper portion, the post marked 6 being connected with a pair of spring contact-plates 7, only one of which is shown, the post 6 being connected with a similar pair of plates marked 7 f the connecting-posts 8 and 8 being located at the lower end of the base and secured to the pairs of spring contact-plates 9 and 9. In the lower portion of the base-plate 5 are inserted insulated tops 10 10, and near the center of the upper portion of this base the metal slide 11, containing a sliding block 12, is secured. The lever 13, having an insulated handle, is journaled on the shaft 14; of a bracket centrally secured to the base. This lever has an extension-arm 15, the upper end of which is connected with the link 16, pivoted to the arm 15 and to the sliding block 12. Secured to the bearing of the lever is a plate 17, formed of a material which is a nonconductor of electricity, and to both the upper and under surfaces of this plate are secured segmental contact-plates 18 and 19. The eye 20 is secured to the lever 13, while the pivot 21, securing the link 16 to the block 12, is extended to form a stud, the coiled spring 22 being secured at one end to the eye 20 and at the other end to this stud or pivot 21. The straight spring 23 is secured at its outer end to the base 5, while its innerend is fastened to or bears on the stud 21.

This switching device is contained within a suitable case, which is not shown, being of well-known and ordinary construction.

Either of the springs may be dispensed with without departing from the spirit of my invention; but when the additional spring 23 is used the slide 11 and the block 12 moving therein are not necessary. In such. a construction the upper end of the pivoted link 16 will be guided by the end of the spring 23, secured to the stud 21. \Vhen the lever 13 is moved from its position at the side of the base, (shown in the drawing,) the upper end of the pivoted link 16 will be forced upward, elongating the coiled spring 22 or forcing the free end of the spring 23 upward, or both. The contact-plates 18, being carried around by the movement of this lever 13, will break the con nection between the spring-plates 7 and 7', while the plates 19 will be moved to break the connection between the spring-plates 9 and 9', the same movement carrying the plates 18 into contact with the spring-plates 7' and 9, the plates 19 connecting the spring-plates 7 and 9. As the lever 13 passes the center of the board, the springs 22 and 23, either or both, will tend to draw it around in the direction of its movement, the force of the spring being sufiicient to exert a sharp and rapid movement adapted to break any are which may be formed as the plates 18 and 19 leave the spring-contacts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an electric switch having binding-posts ICO and spring contact-plates, the combination, with a leverjournaled on a bracket and carrying connecting-plates insulated from one another and having an extension-arm in a line with said lever, of a link pivotally secured to said extension and to a spring-0per ated sliding block movable in a slide, as described.

2. I11 an electric switch, the combination, With the lever 13, having the extension 15, journaled on the shaft 14, and carrying contact-plates, of the link 16, pivotally secured to the extension 15 and tothe block 12, movable in the slide 11, and a coiled spring 22,

secured to the stud 21 and to the lever, as de- 15 16, pivoted to said extension and provided 20 with the studs 21, and a spring 23, secured at one end to said stud and at the other to the base 5, as described.

AUGUSTUS WRIGHT, Witnesses:

HENRY J. MILLER, JOSEPH A. MILLER, Jr. 

